Alice Austen Correspondence with Henry Gilman
PI
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:41:48 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:27:01 PM
Added description
Description
Alice Austen Correspondence with Henry Gilman
Overview
This collection comprises the personal letters exchanged between Elizabeth Alice Austen, a pioneering Staten‑Island photographer, and Henry Gilman in 1892. The materials include six handwritten correspondence items—five from Gilman and one from N K L—along with their envelopes, scanned images of the originals, and typed transcriptions. The documents are dated between March 12 and March 21, 1892, and are preserved in the Alice Austen House Museum’s archival holdings.Background
Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a prominent photographer and social figure in late‑Victorian New York. Henry Gilman, a friend and correspondent, wrote to Austen from various New York locales, notably Flushing (Queens), Clifton (New Jersey), and Staten Island. The letters reflect the social customs of the era, including invitations to social gatherings, exchanges of trifle and postage, and personal reflections on friendship and grief. The collection is part of the museum’s broader effort to document Austen’s personal and professional networks.Contents
- Letters (6): Five from Gilman, one from N K L, dated March 12–21, 1892.
- Envelopes: Corresponding postal covers bearing addresses in Flushing, Clifton, and Staten Island.
- Images: JPEG scans of each letter and envelope, with OCR text extracted for reference.
- Transcriptions: Typed versions of the handwritten letters, providing a readable facsimile for researchers.
Scope
The collection is confined to the year 1892 and the geographic area of New York State (Queens, Staten Island) and New Jersey (Clifton). It documents a brief but illustrative exchange of personal correspondence, offering insight into the social fabric of upper‑middle‑class Staten‑Island society and the everyday life of a woman who balanced artistic pursuits with community engagement. The materials are suitable for studies in Victorian social history, epistolary practices, and the personal networks of early American photographers.Raw Cheimarros Data
@alice_austen_correspondence_with_henry_gilman:document {title: "Alice Austen Correspondence with Henry Gilman", creator: [@henry_gilman, @alice_austen], institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1892, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Personal letters","Victorian social life","Friendship","Staten Island history"]}
@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", residence: @staten_island}
@henry_gilman:person {full_name: "Henry Gilman", role: "correspondent"}
@n_k_l:person {full_name: "N.K.L.", role: "correspondent"}
@staten_island:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@flushing:place {city: "Flushing", borough: "Queens", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@clifton:place {city: "Clifton", state: @new_jersey, country: @united_states}
@new_brunswick:place {city: "New Brunswick", state: @new_jersey, country: @united_states}
@richmond_county:place {county: "Richmond County", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@letter_1892_monday:document {date: @date_1892, from: @henry_gilman, to: @alice_austen, content: "Sent a little trifle, hopes it reaches safely and is useful", signed: "H.K.G.", delivery: "Monday"}
@letter_1892_03_12_2004:document {date: @date_1892_03_12, from: @henry_gilman, to: @alice_austen, location: @flushing, content: "Apologizes for not having address, will send to Clifton and hopes family forwards it", signed: "H.K.G."}
@letter_1892_03_12_2005:document {date: @date_1892_03_12, from: @henry_gilman, to: @alice_austen, content: "Expresses disappointment at not seeing her, mentions 'gaiety' and personal sorrow", signed: "H.H."}
@letter_1892_03_21_9001:document {date: @date_1892_03_21, from: @henry_gilman, to: @alice_austen, location: @flushing, content: "Header with address details (Flushing, Clifton, Staten Island, Richmond County)", signed: null}
@letter_1892_03_21_9002:document {date: @date_1892_03_21, from: @henry_gilman, to: @alice_austen, content: "Despair of not hearing, looks forward to Tuesday evening with great anticipation", signed: null}
@letter_1892_03_21_9003:document {date: @date_1892_03_21, from: @n_k_l, to: @alice_austen, content: "Encloses postage stamps, offers to obtain more before long", signed: "N.K.L."}
@alice_austen_correspondence_with_henry_gilman -> contains -> [@letter_1892_monday, @letter_1892_03_12_2004, @letter_1892_03_12_2005, @letter_1892_03_21_9001, @letter_1892_03_21_9002, @letter_1892_03_21_9003]
@file_1892_2_henry_gilman_monday002_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1892_monday
@file_1892_3_12_march_2004_hkg_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1892_03_12_2004
@file_1892_3_12_march_2005_hkg_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1892_03_12_2005
@file_1892_3_21_march_9001_hkg_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1892_03_21_9001
@file_1892_3_21_march_9002_hkg_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1892_03_21_9002
@file_1892_3_21_march_9003_hkg_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1892_03_21_9003
@henry_gilman -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1892}
@n_k_l -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1892}Metadata
Files (7)
OCR Text
to send you a little trifle today which I hope will reach you safely and prove both acceptable and useful. Till Wednesday, then, believe me, Yours - H.K.G. Monday
OCR Text
Please forward FLUSHING MAD 12 7 C.N.A 1892 N.Y. Case Mrs. E Alice Austen Dr O.S. Austen Union St. Clifton New Brunswick N. Jersey Statue Island New York
OCR Text
Flushing, L.I. Dear Miss Austin - You didn't mention your address in New Brunswick and I don't like to send letters "at large" so I will send this to Clifton and hope your thoughtful family will forward it to you - I am very much
OCR Text
disappointed at not seeing you before this, and shall hold myself in readiness to come to your any evening you like Wednesday next. I am glad you think I have been having "gaiety" in the big city—Gaiety and I are strangers—these many months—we don't speak as we pass by. One referred to in the scriptures described as a "woman of sorrow and acquainted with grief"—In this one particular I can claim a resemblance to him—wish I could in others! I am sorry I can't write a more cheerful letter—I don't like to write letters when I am blue—do you? Let me hear from you how soon I can come down. As always Yours H.H.
OCR Text
FLUSHING MAR 21 830AM 1892 N.Y. Miss E. Alice Austin - Clifton Staten Island New York Richmond County
OCR Text
Dear Miss Austin - I had almost despaired of hearing from you this week, when your note was put into my hands at dinner time this evening. I don't like to think how long it is since I last saw you & I look forward to Tuesday evening with great anticipation.
OCR Text
I take this opportunity to redeem my promise by enclosing a few postage stamps which I have collected for you, and which I hope will turn out to be new ones to your collection. I can probably get you some others before long. Until Tuesday, then, believe me, As always. Sincerely yours N.K.L. Saturday Evening
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:41:48 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:36:27 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:49:30 PM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:27:01 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Correspondence_Henry_Gilman"
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